Are Raccoons Classified As Rodents?

Regarding the classification of animals, you will agree that some things must be justified to be true. For instance, if you want to know whether raccoons are rodents, you must first understand what characteristics make a rodent and whether raccoons share those traits.

Raccoons are medium-sized animals believed to be native to North America, Mexico, Japan, and even Europe. They are known for their bushy tail and how they make unique markings. However, there is a question people often ask about raccoons, are Raccoons Rodents?

Are Raccoons Rodents?

Raccoons are not rodents despite their appearance; raccoons and rodents don’t belong to the same family. Raccoons have a smaller range than rodents. Also, they have different teeth adapted for the sake of diet and lifestyle. 

The Rodentia order, the largest mammalian order, includes all species of rodents. There are about 2,000 species of rodents in the order Rodentia, which makes up about 40% of all mammals. Beavers, guinea pigs, squirrels, prairie dogs, porcupines, and capybaras are part of the world’s biggest rodents.

Rodents are in a different order than raccoons. They belong to the order of Carnivora instead. There are about 280 species in this order of mammals, the fifth largest. Because they are expert meat eaters, animals of the Carnivora order are peculiar.

It is from this that the word “carnivore” originates. A large portion of these specialized meat eaters consume a diet that is largely composed of meat. But some of them, like raccoons, are genuinely omnivores.  

On land and in the sea, members of the Carnivora order can be found in various habitats. Some carnivores include lions, cheetahs, seals, wolves, bears, cats, and dogs.

Raccoons belong to the Pryconidae family group, including ringtails, olingos, and other omnivorous species. The common raccoon, the crab-eating raccoon, and the Cozumel raccoon are the three kinds of raccoons that are still alive today.

The Cozumel raccoon, commonly called the pygmy raccoon, is unique to Mexico’s Cozumel Island. The Cozumel raccoon is considerably smaller than the typical raccoon while looking similar.

Globally, there are just 250–300 Cozumel raccoons left, and they are in grave danger. This is due in part to their limited geographic distribution.

Why Are Raccoons Not Rodents?

Raccoons naturally have quite different teeth than rodents because they belong to the Carnivora order. For example, they don’t have the rodents’ widely expanding incisors. Instead, they have 12 incisors (six up and six down) fixed in size, tiny, and sharp.

Raccoons also have canine teeth, which rodents lack. The fang-like canine teeth are pointed sharp teeth. Usually, the canine teeth bite down on and kill their prey.

As meat-eaters, animals in the Carnivora order have teeth specially designed for their diet. They usually have these cool teeth called carnassial teeth, which are like sharp blades axnd work like scissors to chew their prey. It’s how they get their meal all ready to eat! Do you know what’s fascinating, though?

Raccoons, the omnivores in the Pryconidae family, have some different dental features compared to other carnivores. Their carnassial teeth are not as developed as you might expect. Why is that? Well, raccoons have a diverse diet. They eat other foods like eggs, fruits, nuts, and acorns. They have developed the ability to ingest food other than just meat.

What Type Of Animal Is A Raccoon?

For instance, to judge if raccoons are rodents, you need to know the animal type. Raccoons are known for their distinctive white and black appearances and stand-out rings around their eyes. This is always described as bandit masks. 

They do well in areas with trees, and you can find them in moist woodlands and regions with mountains. However, some raccoons have developed adaptations to the urban region. That is why some are seen in urban areas, and the pest status is always attached to their presence. But are raccoons rodents?

Raccoons can swim and submerge in water for a long time without experiencing any negative effects. One beautiful thing about these creatures is that they are extremely intelligent and have a superior sense of touch.

This is because they have sensitive and nimble paws. Intelligently they use these paws to manipulate and grab things seamlessly. People often see them as naughty because of this and their natural curiosity.

They can be wild and fearsome if you approach them. Interestingly, Raccoons are Omnivores; they can eat plants, animals, or anything available near them. Raccoons are nocturnal animals, i.e., active at night to search for food but sleep during the day.

Are Raccoons Rodents Or Marsupial?

If you wonder if a raccoon is a rodent or marsupial, let your worries melt now. Because Raccoons are either of the two, they have a class independently. They are omnivores from the family called Procyonidae.

If you are looking for marsupials, you will find them in Australia near the Islands, whereas Raccoons are native to North America.

What Are Rodents?

Since you have been given some information about Raccoons, you must know what rodents are. By knowing some characteristics of rodents, you can answer the question, Are Raccoons Rodents?

Rodents are characterized as pests; when you hear them, you know they are dangerous. The best example you can think of right now are rats and mice. 

Rodents are classified as one of the largest and most diverse groups of animals in the world. Though most have stocky bodies, tails, and short limbs, they can come in different shapes and sizes. Most of these rodents are herbivores in nature, meaning they feed on leaves, and another faction of them are omnivores. 

Amazingly, rodents have one thing in common: the constant growth of teeth. They have four incisors (two upper and two lower) and grow always. Rodents developed their bad reputation by chewing on virtually anything they could find, especially what they shouldn’t eat.

Rodents love to chew so much because it helps prevent their incisor teeth from becoming too long for their mouths. In rodents, you will find self-sharpening teeth coated with tough enamel on the front and softer dentin on the rear. 

Their teeth move in a scissor-like motion as a result of continual chewing. As a result, the enamel wears away more slowly than the dentin, which is softer. They become chisel-shaped due to the way they erode.

This particular edge is highly efficient at chewing through wood, bark, fruit, nuts, seeds, and grains because it is always sharp. With these characteristics, are raccoons rodents?

Which Animals Are Rodents?

As we discussed earlier about Rodents’ different characteristics, we have also established that raccoons are not rodents. Then which animals are rodents? Mice, rats, hamsters, and guinea pigs are often kept as pets and are known to most people as rodents.

Beavers, muskrats, porcupines, woodchucks, chipmunks, squirrels, prairie dogs, marmots, chinchillas, voles, lemmings, and several other rodent species are also included in the Rodentia family.

Incidentally, the Rodentia do not contain rabbits since they have an extra pair of incisors and other skeletal characteristics that set them apart from rodents.

The Lagomorpha includes a few species of hares and rabbits. Rodents do not include hedgehogs, shrews, moles, or any other member of the Eulipotyphla order of mammals.